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Ruth

Arlen L. Chitwood

www.lampbroadcast.org

CONTENTS

FOREWORD

1. ISRAEL AND THE CHURCH

2. FROM AMONG THE GENTILES

3. A DECISION

4. THE JOURNEY

5. GLEANING IN BOAZ’S FIELD (1)

6. GLEANING IN BOAZ’S FIELD (2)

7. PREPARATION FOR MEETING BOAZ

8. ON THE THRESHING FLOOR

9. REDEMPTION OF THE INHERITANCE

10. REGALITY

APPENDIX

CROWNS BEFORE THE THRONE

THE COMPLETE OLD TESTAMENT WORD PICTURE

FOREWORD

The book of
Ruth
contains a wealth of information concerning the Church. Israel, of
necessity, is seen throughout the book as well; but the central
focus is on Christ and the Church, not on God and Israel.

Chapters
one
and
two,
along with verses
1-5 of
chapter
three
— within the typical structure of the book — relate the complete
history of the Church throughout the present dispensation. Then,
the latter part of chapter
three
and all of chapter
four,
relate that which will occur surrounding the Church following the
present dispensation.

Chapter
one
centers on salvation by grace, the purpose for salvation, and two
types of Christians (spiritual and carnal). Chapter
two,
continuing, centers on the activity in which Christians are to be
engaged throughout the dispensation. Then chapter
three
reveals activity having to do more particularly with the judgment
seat. This chapter centers on the manner in which Christians are to
presently be preparing themselves for their future appearance before
Christ at His judgment seat, along with events surrounding this
appearance. And chapter
four,
bringing matters to a climax, has to do with Christ’s subsequent
redemption of the inheritance and the bride previously revealed at
the judgment seat becoming His wife, with the Messianic Era
following.

In the preceding
respect,
Ruth
presents a complete picture of Christ and the Church, from the time
of the inception of the Church on the day of Pentecost in 33 A.D. to
that future day when Christ and His consort queen exercise regal
power in the Messianic kingdom.

The first part of
the book (chapters
1-3a)
would parallel that which is seen in the New Testament epistles; and
the latter part of the book would parallel that which is seen both
at the beginning and near the end of the book of
Revelation (chapters
1-5,
19a),
both immediately preceding and immediately following God completing
His dealings with Israel during the final seven years of Daniel’s
Seventy-Week prophecy (chapters
6-18).

Thus, the book of
Ruth
parallels Scripture seen throughout most of the New Testament. And,
when studying either the book of
Ruth
or the New Testament epistles and the book of
Revelation,
to gain a proper understanding of either section, it is vitally
important that Scripture be compared with Scripture. One section
must be studied in the light of the other, along with other sections
of Scripture containing related subject matter as well (both the Old
Testament and the New Testament).

This is simply
one of the ways in which God has structured His Word, necessitating
comparing Scripture with Scripture in order to gain a correct
understanding of that which has been revealed. God, through this
means, has provided man with a complete revelation of Himself, His
plans, and His purposes.

This complete
revelation though can be seen only in one place — in the complete
Word. And it can be properly seen and understood through one means
alone — through comparing parts of this revelation with other parts
of this revelation, through “comparing spiritual things with
spiritual” (1
Corinthians 2:9:13),
viewing and studying the whole of Scripture in this manner.

In this respect,
the book of
Ruth
is an integral and vital link to seeing and understanding the
complete word picture that God has provided. Not only must
Ruth
be viewed and studied in the light of related Scripture (e.g.,
Genesis,
Exodus,
Romans,
Hebrews,
Revelation,
among numerous other books and places in Scripture) but related
Scripture must be viewed and studied in the light of
Ruth
as well.

And the
importance of the book of
Ruth
in this respect is self-evident. This book is about Christ and the
Church, and understanding God’s dealings with the Church in this
respect is a central key to understanding the whole of Scripture.

Understand the
message of the book of
Ruth
(comparing Scripture with Scripture), and you can understand not
only what the present dispensation is about but that which the
future holds for both the Church and Israel as well. It was all
foretold in the small book of
Ruth
over three millennia ago.